Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-02-26
MONTANA CATTLE LOSSES,
Conflicting Reports from the Range
Serious LOSSES More than Probable

Conflicting Reports from the Ranges
Serious LOSSES More than Probable.
st. Paul Pioneer Press, 24th: Ste
wart L. Moore, assistant general freight
agent OF the Northern scific, yesterday
received the following letters from Presi-
dent L. j. Bfyan aud Inspector @. w.
Barney, of the stock growers association
OF Montana:
Presi lent Bryan writes from Miles
Oity under date OF the 2lst inst and says
u lind the outlook bad enough, but
hardly so bad as reported by Mr.. Cog
shell. Should, however, the cold wealth
er continue very much longer the loss
might reach even his estimate. The
snow is about two feet deep and the
weather very cold for this time OF the
year, but We all look for break. up very
soon. From men now on the ranges,
and from those who have been there ali
winter, have estimates of 25 per cent
losses up TO the time of gathering next
spring. This. of course, may be chang
ed either way by the condition of the
weather.
Inspector Barney, under date of Feb.
IL, writes from Billings-We have had
lots of snow. Probably two feet have
fallen since Dec. "a, but it has blown
off to some extent. There isa loss in
cattle among the older and weaker young
stock, but nothing like what the
croakers claim. The heavy losses are
confined principally to localities where
feed was very short when winter set in.
| have seen cowboys and riders from ali
over the ranges, and have been ont a
great deal myself do not credit any
yarns about 80 per cent loss as yet. L
think 20 per cent full estimate on
native stock and 80 ON Texas last falls
drive. Our butchers here are getting
COED beef right off the range now. Lin
spected some dry COWS yesterday which
killed out good fat beef. Cowmen here
say my estimate of Losses is too light,
but it varies SO in different localities
that it is hard to say exactly what the
loss will be. In some place there Is no
loss to speak of, while in others 1t will
be greater. The loss is estimated all the
way from 10 to so per cent. but the ma
iority place it at from 10 to 20 per cent
on native cattle.
Among the arrivals at the Merchants
yesterday Was prominent business
man of Montana, who has given consid-
erable attention TO the condition OF cat
tie upon the Montana ranges during the
past winter. He said yesterday:
The condition of the Montana cattle
is very poor. The published estimates
OF losses have not been aI bit too high.
The situation of everything is really
worse than anything yet published.
Pretty much all the local papers are en-
deavoring to hold back the facts. / saw
an estimate attributed to Miles City
man the other day which put the loss at
2 per cent. This is simply notso. If it
were perpetual summer in Montana
there wonld be more than per cent loss.
As rule they are Office men. and know
about as much OF the situation as you
all do in st. Paul. The reports the
day left Helena were the loss above
there would he 50 per cent. and that
stoekmen on the Smith river were losing
Is per cent of their cattle a week. My
own opinion is that the loss throughout
the territory is already beyond 80 pei
cent.